Re: Desktop Shortcut problems

Thanks so much for the links Frank. I'll double check their system again
tomorrow - if not this coming week, and see what else it could be that I'm
overlooking here. (At least I don't have these problems with my own
computer equipment.)

The folks have Spywareblaster installed as well as Spybot Search and
Destroy. Updated and ran Spybot S&D this morning. Their machine scanned
"clean" except for the usual Red marked 'cookies' malarkey. I noted their
pre-installed trial of Norton Security Suite has expired, so I'll set them
up with a trial of NOD32 or Kaspersky. (Hates Norton Anything.)

One other thing I noted too as well, is the area where the PC is situated -
is not well ventilated and the PC seems to be running hot. Wonders whether
or not that has anything to do with this?

Either way, I'll report back results.

"Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM" <franksaunders@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u8BDRrCkHHA.4188@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"C J." <no.reply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uZPqITCkHHA.4596@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello,

My folks have an HP a630n Pavilion Desktop PC Runing SP2 Home Ed XP, with
512 Mb Ram, and a 160GB harddrive. The System has all updates/patches
from Hp and Windows Update.

For the past few months, they've been calling to complain to me that some
of their desktop shortcuts are intermittently failing to work.

If they double click a shortcut for a program or utility they wish to
use, it fails to load from the desktop. I've inspected the properties
for each of the shortcuts involved, and the Target information lines are
correct - in that each one points to a valid, installed application.

In the past week alone - I've had to fix their desktop shortcuts twice.
As this is getting old, I'm looking for a permanent fix.

So far I've ...

1. Scanned the PC for malware using AdAwareSE, and for the presence of
viruses using Kaspersky Labs Online Scanner.

Result: Their system comes back clean of malware, and is infection free
of trojans and/or viri.

2. Tried a workaround - by dumping their temp cache, and then running
CCleaner and rebooting to remedy the problem.

Result: It seems taking this approach works, but it is only a temporary
solution.

3. Suspected file corruption, or other disk errors so I ran Chkdsk /r /f
from a CMD prompt.

Result: Test runs on next boot, and drive checks out normally.

4. Uncovered Errors in Event Viewer for Explorer.exe - that seem to be
related to using the shortcuts. To test this was the case, I attempted
to use the shortcuts, which failed to load, rebooted and then checked the
Event Viewer. New Errors related to Explorer were listed. So I ran SFC
/Scannow from a CMD box figuring this would find and remedy the problem
with explorer.

Result: None apparent. The situation persists.

Any other ideas?


I know that you have used two anti-malware programs, but that often is not
enough.
Do a thorough check for malware following all of the steps at one of these
sites:
Help with malware
All MS-MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing Messenger Plus, whose ads for
malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince you that
you owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and
see what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not
sure of.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com





.

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